November 29, 2010

When we seek to understand what we need to learn from a lesson (challenge) we give ourselves the gift of opportunty - the opportunity for greater joy.

In his newest book, "Why is God Laughing?" renowned teacher Deepak Chopra gives a humorous take on spirituality--using a fictional tale of a comedian and his unlikely mentor to show the way back to hope, joy, and even enlightenment. Here are 5 principles for spiritual optimism adapted from the fable that will help you direct your life on a path to joy every single day.

The Healthiest Response to Life is Laughter

1. This first principle serves as an antidote to fear and sorrow by encouraging you to experience life as joyous....When you feel momentary happiness, or you want to burst out laughing, or you smile for no apparent reason, you are glimpsing eternal reality....In time, these moments of joy will begin to knit together. Instead of the exception, they will become the norm. There is no better way to know that you are growing in God-realization.

There is Always a Reason to be Grateful

2. This second principle is an antidote to victimization....The purpose of gratitude is to connect yourself to a higher vision of life....Once you realize that you alone are the projector of reality, you will no longer be dominated by external events. You will correct the mistake that lies at the very root of victimization: a belief that the movie controls you, instead of the other way around. Each time the thought of a difficult or painful experience enters your mind, send light, love & peace to the person involved in that experience.

You Belong Here, You are Wanted (and Needed) Here, There is Nothing to be Afraid of.

YOU

ARE

SAFE

3. The third principle is the antidote for insecurity....The role assigned to you is right and proper. It is tailor-made for you, for your complete self....The voice of fear tries to convince you that you are a helpless victim of chance. The very opposite is true. At the deepest level, the level of the soul, you are the author of everything that happens to you.

Your Soul Cherishes Every Aspect of Your Life

4. The fourth principle is the antidote for feeling undervalued. It states that your worth is absolute, and that everything that happens to you - whether it feels good at the time or not - is part of a divine plan unfolding from the level of the soul....A person's worth is the value of a soul, which is infinite. Since every event in your life isn't happening just to a person but to a soul, everything in life should be cherished.

There is a Plan and Your Soul Knows What it Is

5. The fifth principle is the antidote to meaninglessness. It states that your life has a purpose. You determine that purpose at the soul level, and then that purpose unfolds in daily life as part of the divine plan. The more deeply you are connected to the plan, the more powerful it becomes in your life. Ultimately, nothing can stop it.

As this year - this decade, draws to a close, I find myself looking at all the lessons that have come my way. Some were of the "Ah Ha" genre and some, well, were more of the "I don't think I can bare this alone..." kind. Do you have some of these lessons too? What a decade it has been.

I intend to walk into 2011 letting go of

every

single

painful

experience

embracing the JOY that is mine, knowing I have learned, and continue to learn my lessons.

I will

laugh more often

express daily gratitude (for it all!)

have faith in knowing I belong right where I am, be unafraid to be all that I am created to be, and trust that I am safe in pursuing this

know that my soul is cherished, and that every aspect of my life is of value

daily seek God's plan for me, to prosper me, and to give me a hope and a future.

November 26, 2010

oh my, oh my - as a creative I continually seek change. I may not always implement change, but I certainly seek it. I vascillate between bursts of bright happy color to soothing shades of white. Today, this inspires me. What's inspiring you today?

I'm eagerly awaiting the release of a few new home decor lines in January . . .no peeks just yet, but, this anthro room will be a perfect redesign of my own room, where I can bring in my new wall decor, storage trunks, mirrors & other pretties. Pure Sanctuaire!

We shared a wonderful day with friends yesterday, delicious food, wine, and I even learned to play poker (the banker kept giving me more chips - if only that would occur in real life, huh?). Thank you, Janie, for your sweet hospitality.

Off to enjoy lunch and a day of leisure with my family today - all play, no work for this girl today.

November 20, 2010

imagine opening your front door and seeing this on your doorstep with a little note telling you what a wonderful, dear friend you are . . .thank you, each of you who spend some of your precious time peeking in on my creative world.

(I wrote this little piece when I was around 18, I think, during a time when I sought to make sense of a senseless childhood). I've always enjoyed journaling, and it is in my journals I feel the utmost freedom to write the truest pieces of my heart. It is thru this writing I find solace, answer to prayer, and clarity in my thoughts and feelings.

Do you write? Do you journal?

When you write, do give yourself pemission to be yourself - allow who you are, what you are, what you believe, to shine through every senctence you write. It's your story - it may be a crazy story, filled with highs & lows, but it is your story. Tell it, share it, write about it.

Writing is a lifeline. It will lead you through the darkness, and shine a light on the truth your heart fears to recognize. Teachers say, “Write what you know.” That’s good advice, but it doesn’t go far enough. Writer what you don’t know, what you wonder about, what you dare to dream in the deep blue watches of the night. Dive down into the depths of your mind, and seek the treasures there. Write what you imagine, write what you dare, write what you dream. Writing will save you, heal you. It will drink you down like cool water and swallow your stories whole. It is the most important survival tool I have yet to discover. Writing keeps me sane. It keeps the monsters at bay; calms the storm in my heart; brings me joy in dark hours. I’ve chosen this photo as the subject for my essay because it represents the juxtaposition of darkness and light. Writing will take you into the deepest darkness you can imagine, and it will illuminate the blackest parts of your soul. It is a path- a road to follow- a sacred journey of the heart. Our stories are all we truly possess. Next to these treasures, mere worldly riches are as dust. Writing can save your soul- or at least make it worth saving. Burn, explode, leap! Write the thing you’re afraid to say, all the bad words, all the unkind things and the silly fancies of childhood. Write the story that hurts the most. Write the truth that cuts to the bone, and let the tale seep out in a bloody gush of words. Write something you’ll be ashamed of later; write something that makes you laugh out loud. Write your way out of your heart’s deepest darkness- in doing this, know that you are doing sacred work and leaving a bright trail of stories and songs for others to follow.

Let your words light your way.

The juxtoposition of light showing the way through the dark, in Molly's photo, inspired her writing.

November 10, 2010

Rather than hit the big boxes in search of gifts this year, whaddaya say we pop into the neighborhood shops and boutiques first? After all, they pump the greatest percentage of revenue back into the neighborhoods we live (and celebrate) in.

Both Cobblestone Cottage and Ma Maison carry my brand new Comfort & Joy holiday gift & decor as well as other TCD products.

Also, when you make a purchase from Terri Conrad Designs, and enter the code "got music" you will receive a 10% discount, and 20% of your purchase will be donated to our local Jr. High Music department. Something good for you, for local community & students, and your heart & home!

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On the creativity front, I just completed my Pieces of my Heart collection, and am putting the finishing touches on "Nature's Bouquet." With licensing and product development completed for 2011 (can you believe it?) we won't see this art on products until 2012.